Salty Crew
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Based on what Salty Crew publishes, with few independent checks. It doesn't say where its products are made, so we use where its industry usually makes them. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources · How we check
Californian fishing and surf apparel brand.
Salty Crew is rated as part of a company that scored 16/100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, and we couldn't confirm where it makes most of its fishing and surf lifestyle apparel.
Also worth knowing
Most clothes and shoes are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.
Better-graded outdoor
Graded higher than Salty Crew, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements, with 3 red flags.Open why it has this gradeClose why it has this grade
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report 16/100 in 2024, for the company it's rated with). Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere clothes and shoes are usually made, such as China and Bangladesh, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report 16/100 (2024, the company it's rated with)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Where its industry usually makes its goods: China 30%, Bangladesh 20%, Vietnam 15% and 5 more countries.Open where it's madeClose where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Salty Crew makes most of its products, so this shows where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Cambodia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
2 things we found and what 2 independent sources say.Open the evidenceClose the evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Salty Crew does not say where its clothing is made. Parent Globe International reports its Tier 1 suppliers across all brands are mainly in China (59%), India, Bangladesh, the USA, Vietnam, Mexico and Fiji, but gives no breakdown for Salty Crew and publishes no supplier list. Globe asks suppliers in high-risk countries for SEDEX membership or a recent social audit, though 16% of those factories had neither in 2025. Its supplier code requires only legal minimum wages and it has no living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportAnother organisation's rating | Owner scored 16/100, failing | Parent Globe International, which controls Salty Crew, scored 16 out of 100 in the 2024 Ethical Fashion Report, well below the 31.3 average. (2024 edition; latest is 2026) View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Statement filed | Covered by Globe International's modern slavery statement; in 2025 its Tier 1 suppliers were 59% in China, 12% India and 10% Bangladesh, with 16% of high-risk factories lacking a current audit. View |
Sources and actions
6 sources, company details, and how to send evidence or a right of reply.Open the sources and company detailsClose the sources and company details
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Globe International - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2024 Ethical Fashion Report score 16/100; Salty Crew listed as a Globe brand; most products made in China (2024 edition; latest is 2026)
- Globe International buys 50% stake in Salty Crew (FashionNetwork) · search the archive · Globe International acquired 50% of Salty Crew in 2017
- Globe International Ethical Sourcing Policy (Dec 2024) · search the archive · Wages must meet local legal minimums; no living wage clause; APSCA audits and SEDEX for high-risk suppliers
- Globe International - History · search the archive · San Diego-based Salty Crew, founded 2014, joined Globe International in 2017
Published by Salty Crew or its owner
- Globe International Modern Slavery Statement (year to June 2025) · search the archive · Salty Crew is a Globe brand; Tier 1 suppliers China 59%, India 12%, Bangladesh 10%, USA 6%, Vietnam 4%; 16% of high-risk factories unaudited
- Globe International Modern Slavery Statement (year to June 2022) · search the archive · 94 Tier 1 suppliers, 55 in China; living wage research only a future goal; no supplier list
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Salty Crew ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/salty-crew, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Salty Crew.
Choose a better-graded brand
20 brands in outdoor are graded higher than Salty Crew.